Moono Mupotola Appointed as Deputy Director General of the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery Office
The African Development Bank Group has announced the appointment of Moono Mupotola as the Deputy Director General of the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery Office, effective October 16, 2024. This pivotal role places Mupotola at the forefront of regional development initiatives, where her extensive experience and commitment to sustainable growth will be invaluable.
A Wealth of Experience
Moono Mupotola, a Zambian national, brings over 25 years of diverse development experience across Africa to her new position. Her career has been marked by significant contributions to infrastructure development, trade, and regional integration. Since December 2020, she has served as the Bank’s Country Manager for Zimbabwe, where she played a crucial role in re-engaging the country with the international community and addressing outstanding debt and arrears commitments.
Mupotola’s journey with the African Development Bank began in 2009 when she joined as the Regional Integration and Trade Division Manager. Her dedication and expertise led to her appointment as Director of Regional Integration and Trade and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in 2015, followed by her role as Director of the Regional Integration Coordination Office in 2018. Throughout her tenure, she has been instrumental in promoting regional integration and trade across the continent.
Promoting Regional Integration
Mupotola’s commitment to regional integration is evident in her leadership of various initiatives. She supervised the Lusophone Compact, a program designed to support the private sector in six Portuguese-speaking African nations. Additionally, she spearheaded several key initiatives, including the Visa Openness Index, the Africa Trade Fund, and the Regional Integration Index, in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
Her responsibilities also included managing the Bank’s regional project preparation facility and overseeing the African Development Fund’s Regional Operations Envelope. Mupotola’s strategic oversight has facilitated research, infrastructure projects, capacity-building initiatives, and policy reforms in regional member countries, further solidifying her reputation as a leader in trade and regional integration.
A Journey of Growth
Before her tenure at the African Development Bank, Mupotola held various significant positions that enriched her expertise. She served as the Division Head of Trade and Marketing at the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, worked as a Regional Policy Specialist for the Food and Agriculture Organization in Zimbabwe, and was a Trade Specialist at the Southern African Development Community Trade Hub in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Her early career also included roles at Zambia National Commercial Bank and the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit, where she honed her skills in banking and research.
Mupotola holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Bennington College, Vermont, and an MPhil in Development and Sociology from Cambridge University, UK. Her academic background complements her extensive professional experience, equipping her with a robust understanding of economic and social development issues.
A Vision for the Future
In response to her appointment, Mupotola expressed her gratitude and enthusiasm for the new role. “I am extremely honored to have this chance and grateful to President Adesina for believing in me. The position of Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery Office is both difficult and exciting. I am excited to collaborate effectively with our teams and stakeholders to deliver on the Bank’s vision and High 5 priorities for sustainable development,” she stated.
Leadership Endorsement
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, highlighted Mupotola’s leadership and experience in his endorsement of her appointment. “I am delighted to appoint Mrs. Moono Mupotola as Deputy Director General of the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery Office. She has extensive experience in regional operations, having previously worked as Director of Regional Operations,” he remarked.
Adesina praised Mupotola’s remarkable leadership, diplomatic skills, and execution capacity, particularly in her collaboration with the Zimbabwean government and development partners to advance organized talks for Zimbabwe’s arrears clearance and essential reforms. He emphasized that her incisive leadership and in-depth knowledge of Southern African countries would significantly enhance the African Development Bank Group’s operations and collaborations in the region.
Conclusion
Moono Mupotola’s appointment as Deputy Director General of the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery Office marks a significant milestone in her illustrious career. With her extensive experience and unwavering commitment to sustainable development, Mupotola is poised to make a profound impact on the African Development Bank’s initiatives in the region, fostering growth and integration that will benefit countless communities across Southern Africa. As she embarks on this new chapter, the expectations are high, and the potential for positive change is immense.